Sole_Source_56-16_R_Redacted.pdf

Version – April 2016 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

FAR Part 6 Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition

1. Contracting Activity: 410th Contracting Support Brigade Regional Contracting Office Key West Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATFS) Truman Annex, Naval Air Station Key West, FL 33040

2. Description of Action: Joint Interagency Task Force-South requests the procurement of Augury Tool Subscription Services to be awarded to Argonne Ridge Group, Inc. located at 901 International Parkway, Suite 350, Lake Mary, Florida 32746-4703. The Government projects award for July 1, 2016 with fiscal year 2016 Operations and Maintenance, Army (OMA) funds.

An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 207.103(d)(i)(B).

3. Description of Supplies/Services: Argonne Ridge Group, Inc. (ARG) shall provide Augury too subscription to include up to 15 individual accounts, licenses, maintenance, install/set-up, configuration and training. The period of performance will include:

Base Period: 1 Jul 2016 to 30 Jun 2017 Option Period 1: 1 Jul 2017 to 30 Jun 2018 Option Period 2: 1 Jul 2018 to 30 Jun 2019

4. Authority Cited: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

5. Reason for Authority Cited: Augury is an unclassified graphical user interface tool with the ability to access stored non content related communication data flows from worldwide Network Operation Centers (NOCS) collected from Private Sector Companies. Use of the Augury tool will give JIATFS the ability to track miscreant activities across multiple internet-connected networks, despite the use of proxies and bounces.

In addition, this subscription will provide JIATFS and its Interagency and IC partners, on and offsite, with the ability to leverage the aggregation of data from across the federal government, as well as the Internet in general, and use this data for Counter Illicit Trafficking (CIT), Counter Transnational Organized Crime (C-TOC) and Counter Threat Finance (CTF) mission sets.

ARG holds the proprietary rights and is the sole source for obtaining access to the Augury Tool.

The Government's market research has concluded that Augury is the only tool currently capable of meeting the Government's requirements. In addition, ARG is in the Central Contractor Registry database and has done satisfactory services for other Government agencies under the same authority. Based on the above, it was determined to be in the best interest of the Government to go directly to the source for this procurement.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: Because this is a sole source action, effective competition is not applicable. The contractor is a small business and does not subcontract any portion of the requirement.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: Extensive market research indicates that ARG’s exclusive licensing capabilities are not available from any other direct supplier. JIATFS will continue to review the market capabilities for tool capable of tracking miscreant activity across multiple

56-16 internet-connected networks, despite the use of proxies and bounces. JIATFS coordinates with other government agencies with similar requirements and participates in conferences and forums that provide access to other vendors capable of providing a similar tool.

A Notice of Intent to Sole Source was issued to Federal Business Opportunities (FBO). In accordance with FAR 5.207(c)(16)(ii), all responsible sources that felt they can meet the Government's requirements detailed above were afforded the opportunity to submit a capability statement which shall be considered by the agency.

8. Market Research: Market research yielded only two companies that can supply communication data flows information to fulfill this requirement. The two companies are ARG and Endgame Systems. It was determined that Endgame Systems uses the ARG capabilities as the back end for their systems; therefore ARG is the sole original provider of the data. Research of this domain included the use of technical conferences, professional contacts and internet research.

9. Interested Sources: No interested vendors were identified from the Notice of Intent issued on

FBO.

10. Other Facts: The unique and specialized technology provided by ARG is a narrow, sophisticated technology arena that is not a widespread technical capability found across private industry. ARG licenses are proprietary and are not available for purchase through other sources.

11. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

13. Fair and Reasonable Price Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable. IAW FAR 15.404-1(b)(2)(ii) and (v), a comparison of proposed prices to historical prices paid, whether by the Government or other than the Government, for the same or similar items as well as a comparison of proposed prices with independent Government cost estimates will be utilized to ensure a fair and reasonable price. IAW FAR 15.403-4 certified cost or pricing data will not be required as an exception to the certified cost or pricing data requirement exists because a commercial item is being acquired.

14. Review: I have reviewed this justification and have no legal objection.

Legal Counsel

15. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of services on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C.2304(c)(1), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services or property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.